Joe Ellis

Wed 18 May 2022 18:43, UK

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has named the 11 Rangers players to start tonight’s Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville.

The boss has understandably brought back most of the Light Blues’ senior players after rotating heavily for the final Scottish Premiership game away at Hearts, which they won 3-1 at Tynecastle.

The likes of James Tavernier, Ryan Kent, Connor Goldson and John Lundstram have all returned to the Gers side having been rested at the weekend and 40-year-old Allan McGregor returns in goal in place of Jon McLaughlin.

Roughly 18,000 Rangers fans will be in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium for the big game this evening despite only 9,500 being sold to the Glasgow club after many snapped up their tickets in the UEFA ballots.

Tens of thousands more will have to watch from various pubs and bars across the Andalusian capital with another of Seville’s stadiums hosting a large portion of Scots with big-screen viewing of the match.

Be historic

The nerves are ramping up in every Rangers-supporting home in the world and probably even more so for those players set to take to the grass tonight.

With the possible exception of the UEFA Cup final in Manchester in 2008, there hasn’t been a game as big as this in the last few decades for the Gers and we can’t have another repeat of that night.

We do not want to be the bridesmaids again and have to travel back to Scotland without the trophy in our hand luggage.

Every one of those players is fully aware of that and there is huge pressure in such a game but they have proven time and time again that they can handle the biggest of occasions and come out on top.

It’s time to stand tall, be brave and take down a third German team of this incredible season and allow the party to go long into the night, both in Seville and Glasgow. Bring it home lads.

In other Rangers news, one of van Bronckhorst’s injured players has been spotted walking the streets of Seville with a wave of Light Blues fans earlier today.